Silo door construction



Jail. 26, 1937. c E T 2,068,972

S ILO DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 1936 INVENTOR.

25 C/mr/es ,4. Banyan.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SILO DOOR (JONSTRUCTION Application April 13,

8 Claims.

My invention relates to silo door construction. It has to do, more particularly, with silo unloading doors provided for concrete stave silos or the like although there are certain features of my invention not necessarily limited thereto.

The unloading doors of silos of the type indicated are usually locked in closed position by means of locks comprising ordinary bolts provided with handle nuts threaded thereon. Turnbuckles have also been used for this purpose. After the door has been locked by such means for an appreciable length of time, the ensilage juices rust and corrode the threads on the looking means; Thus, when an attempt is made to open the doors, it is difficult or impossible to do The staves of concrete silos or the like are usually held in their proper positions by means of hoops or tie rods which encircle the silo. One of these hoops is usually located at the top of the unloading doorway and another at the bottom of the doorway. However, in some cases an extra hoop or tie rod is disposed intermediate the above-mentioned, hoops at a point substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the door frame. However, this hoop does not extend across the doorway so as not to interfere with entrance by a man into the silo through the doorway. This hoop has its free ends adjustably connected to theframe of the doorway at opposite sides thereof. Obviously, this places considerable strain on the door frame which tends to cause the side membersof the door frame to bulge outwardly.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel type of lock for the unloading doors of silos which is of such a construction that it will not be rendered inoperative by corrosion or rust and may be quickly and easily unlocked at any time.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for use with concrete silos or the like adapted to be applied to the unloading doorway thereof for bracing the frame of the doorway in such a manner as to prevent the strains to which it is subjected from causing distortion or bulging thereof.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of a concrete stave silo having my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in perspective of 1936, Serial No. 73,996

the doorway and doors of the silo to which my invention is applied.

Figure 3 is a plan View of a novel lock which I preferably employ for locking the silo door in closed position.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken through the silo door and illustrating how the lock firm] holds the door in closed position. I 1

With reference to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, I have illustrated a silo which is made up of a plurality of vertically disposed concrete staves which abut each other and are provided with interfitting edges. The staves are held in cooperative relation by means of a plurality of hoops 2 which extend entirely around the silo and a plurality of tie rods 3 which extend the greater portion of the distance around; the silo. This silo is shown as having a vertically disposed opening extending substantially from the top thereof to the bottom thereof which receives a door frame 4 illustrated best in Figure 2. This door frame serves as a means for mounting a plurality of doors to permit removal of the ensilage from the silo.

The doorway 4 is made from a pair of vertically disposed metal beams 5 which are secured -to-, gether by means of a plurality of transversely extending beams 6 which are disposed at verti cally spaced intervals and are moved to correspond to the curvature of the wall of thesilo; The space between two adjacent beams 6 forms a doorway for receiving a silo door I. This door 1 comprises mainly a steel plate which ishinged to the door frame 4 by means of a double hinge in such a manner that it may be swung inwardly into the silo. This plate is curved transversely to correspond substantially to the curvature of the silo wall. The double hinge construction comprises a plate member 8 pivoted to the frame as at 9 and to the door as at ID. This permits the door to move bodily inwardly into the silo and when the door is closed permits the door to firmly contact with the door frame the entire distance therearound. The fact that the door and the door frame are curved transversely on a radius corresponding substantially to that of the silo wall results in a closer fit at the top and bottom of. the door frame.

In order to firmly hold the door in closed position and in such a manner that it may be readily opened at any time, I provide novel locking means illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. It will be noted that the outer surface of the door is provided with a pair of vertically disposed angle irons. ll welded or otherwise secured to the door. These angle irons are so disposed that when the door is closed they are positioned close to the side members of the door frame. Adjacent the top and bottom of the door a transversely extending rod I2 is mounted on the angle irons so that it will be spaced from the surface of the door. These rods I2 may be sprung outwardly to a certain extent.

For cooperating with each of the rods I2 I provide a lock indicated generally by the numeral I3. This lock I3 embodies a lever I4 which is pivoted as at I5 to the transversely extending member 6 of the door frame. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the lock for the lower end of the door is attached to the upper surface of the beam 6 while the lock for the upper end of the door is attached to the lower surface of the beam 6 adjacent thereto. The free end of the lever I 4 serves as a, handle by means of which the lock may be operated. At the pivoted end of the lever it is provided with an eccentric portion I6. This eccentric portion I6 has the outer end of a hook I! pivoted thereto as at I8. The hooked end of the member I! is adapted to fit around the rod I2, as indicated in Figure 2. It will be noted from Figures 3 and 4 that the pivot points I5 and I8 are out of alignment with each other, when the lever I4 is in locked and unlocked positions.

In the operation of this locking means, the door will be swung into closed position. The levers I4 of the locks will at this time be swung to the left (Figure 4). This will permit the members I! to be hooked around the rods I2. To look the door in position, it is merely necessary to swing the levers towards the right, as indicated in Figure 3. Swinging of lever I4 to the right will cause the pivot point I8 to move away from the door and, consequently, cause the hook I! to pull on the rod I2. When the pivot point I8 is in alignment with the pivot point I5, the pivot point I8 will be at the farthest point it reaches from the front of the door. If the lever I4 is swung slightly farther towards the right or towards the door, the pivot point 18 will move out of alignment with the pivot point I5 and will be disposed at the right thereof. However, pivot point I8 will then move closer to the door. Thus, it will be apparent that during this swinging movement of the lever M'into locking position it will be necessary for the rod I2 to bend sufficiently for the pivot point I 8 to move rearwardly and to the right of the pivot point I 5. As soon as the pivot point I8 moves to the right past the pivot point I5, the spring force of the rod I2 will cause the outer end of the lever to quickly snap against the rod I2. The outer end of the lever I4 is provided with a depending lug I9 for contacting with the rod I2 to limit swinging movement of the lever I4 towards the door. The lever I4 will be held in locked position by the spring force of the rod I2, until it is actually pulled outwardly and towards the left with sufiicient force to overcome the spring force of the rod I2. During movement of lever I 4 into locking position the hook I! will automatically adjust itself along rod I2.

The hook I I is of such a length that during the swinging movement of the lever I4 from unlocked position to locked position, the rod I2 will be sprung outwardly, it being sprung out wardly to the greatest extent when the pivot point I8 is at the farthest point from the door it reaches which will be at the time it is in alignment with the pivot point I5. However, when the pivot point I8 moves to the right of the pivot point I5 and, therefore, slightly closer to the door, the rod I2 is still sprung outwardly. Consequently, this produces the spring force that causes the lever I4 to snap into locked position against the rod I2. It also causes the edges of the door to be in firm contact with the frame, as indicated best in Figure 4.

It will be apparent that the lock which I have provided is of such a type that there is no danger of rusting or corrosion preventing operation thereof. No portion of the lock extends through the door into the interior of the silo. Consequently, there is no danger of the ensilage juices affecting the lock.

As previously stated, the hoops 2 extend entirely around the silo. A saddle 20 is provided on each of the members 6 of the door frame for receiving one of the hoops 2. It will be noted that the hoops 3 extend the greater portion of the distance around the silo but do not extend across the doorway so as not to interfere with entrance of a man into the silo through the doorway. The hoops 3 are located substantially midway between the hoops 2 and, consequently, substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of each doorway. The free ends of the hoops 3 are adjustably secured to bracket members 2| and 22 which are bolted to the side members 4 of the door frame.

In order to prevent pulls on the free ends of the hoops 3 from producing strains on the side members 4 of the door frame I provide a structure which in effect serves to connect the ends of the hoop 3 together. as comprising a rod 23. One end of this rod fits into an open-ended slot 24 formed in the bracket 2I and it has a head 25 formed on this end which normally prevents the bolt from slipping through the slot 24. The opposite end of the rod 23 passes through a slot 26, having its ends closed, which is formed in the bracket 22. It will be apparent that a portion of this bracket 22 having the slot 26 formed therein is bent into substantially horizontal position as at 27. Thus, part of the slot 26 is in a horizontal portion 2'! and the other part of the slot is in a vertical portion 28 of the bracket 22. This end of the rod 23 has a nut 29 threaded thereon which normally prevents pulling of the end of the rod 23 through the slot 26.

When this rod 23 is in use, it is in the position indicated in Figure 2 at the top thereof. Thus, it serves as a connection between the two ends of the tie rod or hoop 3. It may be adjusted to prevent any strains being placed on the side members 4 of the door frame by reason of the connection of the ends of the member 3 thereto. It is merely necessary to tighten nut 29 to prevent any such strains being transmitted to the side members 4. When the door is opened and it is desirable for a man to enter the silo through the doorway, the rod 23 may be moved to inoperative position where it will not intenfere with passage through the doorway. To do this the nut 29 is loosened. Then the opposite end of the rod 23 may be swung upwardly out of the slot 24. The rod may be swung into vertical position and then dropped through the slot 26 until the head 25 thereof rests against the horizontal portion 21 of bracket 22, as indicated in the lower portion of Figure 2. Thus, the rod will hang at one side of the doorway where it will not interfere with passage through the doorway. When the door is closed and it is desirable for the This means is illustrated rod 23-to again function, it is merely necessary to pull it vertically through the slot 26 and then swing it downwardly across the doorway until its one end falls into the slot 24.

It will be apparent that this rod 2-3 serves in effect to connect the ends of the member 3 and, therefore, prevents strains of the side members of the door frame. However, the rod 23 may be used even though a hoop member 3 is not disposed between the hoop members 2. In some instances, the hoop members 3 are not employed. However, other forces tend to throw the door frame out of shape and this rod 23 will aid in preventing distortion of the, door frame. The rods 23 serve another purpose. They serve as rungs to form a ladder along the doorway. The hoops 2 serve as rungs and the rods 23 located therebetween, also serve as rungs.

It will be apparent from the above that I have provided effective means for looking a silo door which is of such a nature that corrosion or rusting will not prevent operation thereof. Furthermore, the lock is so located and constructed that it will be impossible for the ensilage juices in the silo to affect it. I have also provided means for preventing strains on the frame of the doorway from causing bulging or distortion thereof.

Various other advantages will be apparent from the preceding description, the drawing, and the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination a silo door movable between open and closed positions relative to a door frame, means for locking the door in closed position and in firm contact with the door frame, said means comprising a pivoted lever, a hook member pivoted to said lever at a point spaced from the pivot point of the lever, said hook member being adapted to hook over a resilient rod mounted on said door, the pivot point of said hook to the lever being located at one side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in unlocking position and being located at the opposite side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in looking position, said hook member being of such length that said rod will be sprung when the lever is in looking position.

2. In combination a silo door movable between open and closed positions relative to a door frame, means for locking the door in closed position and in firm contact with the door frame, said means comprising a pivoted lever, a connecting member pivoted to said lever at a point spaced from. the pivot point of the lever and being connected to the door by a resilient connection, the pivot point of said connecting member to the lever being located at one side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in unlocking position and being located at the opposite side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in looking position.

3. In combination a silo door movable between open and closed positions relative to a door frame, means for locking the door in closed position and in firm contact with the door frame, said means comprising a pivoted lever, a member for connecting said lever to the door and being pivoted to said lever at a point spaced from the pivot point of the lever, the pivot point of said connecting member to the lever being located at one side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in unlocking position and being located at the opposite side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in looking position.

4. In combination, a silo door member movable between open and closed positions relative to a door frame member, means for locking the door member in closed position and in firmcontact with the door frame member, said means comprising a pivoted lever carried by one of said members, a resilient connection between the member which carries said lever and the other member, said-resilient connection including a hook member and a resilient rod carried by said door member, said hook member being pivoted to said lever at a point spaced from the pivot point of the lever, the pivot point of said hook to the lever being located at one side of the pivot point of thelever when the lever is in un locking position and being located at the opposite side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in looking position, said hook member being of such length that said rod will be sprung when the lever is in looking position so that the resilient force produced thereby tends to hold the lever in looking position.

5. In combination, a silo door member movable between open and closed positions relative to a door frame member, means for locking the door member in closed position and in firm contact with the door frame member, said means comprising a pivoted lever carried by one of said members, means for connecting the member which carries said lever to the other member, said means comprising a connecting member pivoted to said" lever at a point spaced from the pivot point of the lever, the pivot point of said connecting member to the lever being located at one side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever 1 is in unlocking position and being located at the opposite side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in locking position.

6. In combination, a silo door member movable between open and closed positions relative to a door frame member, means for locking the door member in closed position and in firm contact with the door frame member, said means comprising a pivoted lever carried by one of said members, means for connecting the member which carries said lever to the other member, said means comprising a connecting member ivoted to said lever at a point spaced from the pivot point of the lever, the pivot point of said connecting member to the lever being located at one side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in unlocking position and being located at the opposite side of the pivot point of the lever when the lever is in locking position, and resilient means forming a part'of said connecting means for permitting movement of said lever between unlocking and locking positions, said last-named means tending to maintain said lever in looking position.

'7. In combination, a stave silo comprising a plurality of vertically disposed staves, a doorway, a door frame in said doorway, means for securing said staves and the door frame in cooperative relation, said means comprising a hoop member extending substantially around the silo but terminating at the sides of the doorway, one end of said hoop being secured to a bracket fastened to one side of said door frame and the other end of said hoop being secured to a bracket fastened to the other side of said door frame, and a tie rod extending across said doorway and serving in effect to tie the ends of said last-named hoop member together, said tie rod having a head on one end and one of said brackets having an open-ended slot into which said end of said tie rod may be positioned, the other end of said tie rod having a nut threaded thereon and said end of said rod projecting through a closed slot formed in the other of said brackets, the last-named bracket being so shaped that the portion having the slot therein comprises a horizontal portion and a vertical portion.

8. In combination with a door frame for silos comprising vertically extending members, a reinforcing member extending across the door frame, said member being a tie rod, a bracket secured to each of said vertically extending members and being disposed opposite each other,

one of said brackets having a slot formed therein into which one end of the tie rod projects, said tie rod having means on said end for preventing movement of the tie rod through the slot in one direction, the other of said brackets having a slot formed therein for receiving the other end of said tie rod, means on said end of said rod for preventing movement of the tie rod through said slot in one direction, said lastnamed bracket being so shaped that the portion having the slot therein comprises two portions substantially at right angles to each other.

CHARLES A. BANGERT. 

